28 THE FLORIST. 



of an immense Crimson Boursault, which covers a somewhat un- 

 sightly building. It bloomed the year it was worked, and has never 

 since failed to yield a moderate quantity of flowers — and such flowers ! 

 I would not discard it if it only gladdened my eyes with one of its 

 magnificent blooms in the space of ten years. 



A. S. H. 



HINTS TO FLORISTS. 



Among the popular themes of the day we find " what to eat, what 

 to drink, and what to avoid." So in floriculture, " what to grow" 

 has been ably given from your " Note-Book ;" will you allow me 

 to direct attention to " what to avoid }" I will commence with 

 Carnations and Picotees, flowers which I have cultivated and ex- 

 hibited for the past ten years, and of which goodly lists are given 

 in your last Number. 



It is not sufficient that a variety shall possess one or two good 

 qualities, as a fine white, bright well-defined colour or colours, a 

 smooth edge, a good-shaped petal, and a sufficiency of them, colour 

 solid on the edge, a good pod, fine habit, and a good grower : these 

 must be combined in a desirable variety ; and to cultivate others is 

 but to increase difficulties, which at all times are numerous enough 

 in tlie path of an exhibitor. 



Discard then, or avoid, in Scarlet Bizarres, Brilliant, Don John, 

 Harlequin, Isonia, Juba, Omnium Primus, Prince of Wales, True 

 Briton (Lodge's), Whipper-in; — Crimson Bizarres, Duke of Rox- 

 burgh, Edgar, Hugo Meynell, Nulli Secundus, William Caxton ; — 

 Pink Bizarre, Princess Royal ; — Purple Flakes, Bonny Bess, Duke 

 of Wellington, First-Rate, John Wright, Lady Dacre, Miss Thorn- 

 ton, Mango, President (both Martin's and Puxley's), Prince de Nas- 

 sau, Solander ; — Scarlet Flakes, Hannibal, Lephare, Mary Ann, North 

 Midland, Pyrecanthus ; — Rose Flakes, Apollo, Fairy Queen, Lanca- 

 shire Witch, Marquis of Westminster, Oberon, Rosetta, Sylvius. 



Purple Picotees, Augusta, Bendigo, Brunette, Coronation, Fairy 

 Queen, Favourite, Field Marshal, Helen, Jenny Lind, iMiss Duke, 

 Mrs. Fenton, Mrs. Lilley, Norwich Rival, Nottingham Hero, Nulli 

 Secundus, Prince Royal, Queen Victoria, Sylph, Sarah, Wedding 

 Dress ; — Red Picotees, Antagonist, Countess de Grey, Criterion, Isa- 

 bella (Tolworthy), Maid of Honour, Mrs. Meynell, Northampton 

 Bride, Queen of England, Richard Cobden, Sir R. Sale, Sir W. Mid- 

 dleton, Unique (Hudson), Ditto (Barringer), Yorkshire Hero; — Rose 

 Picotees, Miss Osborne, Mrs. Trahar, Proconsul. 



Even with this wholesale annihilation, I find myself " nursing 

 in pots," in Carnations, S. B., 25 varieties, 160 pairs; C. B., 15 

 varieties, 70 pairs ; P. B., 9 varieties, GO pairs ; P. F., 15 varie- 

 ties, 100 pairs ; S. F., 12 varieties, 80 pairs; R. F., 10 varieties, 

 70 pairs. Purple Picotees, 30 varieties, 250 pairs ; Red P., 20 varie- 

 ties, 180 pairs; and Rose P., 20 varieties, 150 pairs; total, 156 

 varieties, in 1120 pairs ; and yet I pride myself on growing a selec- 



